Depending on their age, the Science Museum. When she was younger, I could park myself in the same general area as my kid and just let her go to town on the exhibits. Pretty sure she made a new best friend every time we went.

A nice walk around the Art Museum is great for a rainy or cold day. Sure I've been there plenty of times, but I can move about and have an enjoyable time. If it's not to rainy I'll go for a stroll down the canal walk and the T Pot bridge. The breeze is sometimes harsh, but I rather be outside moving then cooped up in the apartment all day.

Ugly weather calls for grabbing the corner booth at your favorite spot with good friends. Some of my very best Richmond memories are from walking to Commercial Taphouse or The Franklin Inn during a blizzard and eating and drinking and laughing for hours.

Maybe you can make your own favorite memories this weekend at one of the events in The Weekend Event Thread! Or let people know about the event you're looking forward to and add your own.

We have a membership to CMoR, and our oldest loves moving around there. I don’t think he’s quite old enough to do most of the science museum, I’m thinking like 6+ is the sweet spot there

Triangle Rock Climbing, Ashland Skateland, and Jumpology (now DEFY Richmond) were always favorites. We’d also go to the various gymnastics clubs around town when they had Open Gym days.

If we were looking for low-key, low-cost/no-cost options strolling around the greenhouse at local nurseries was and still is a fun thing for us as a family. The VMFA is never a bad option. Odd Balls Collectibles and similar places are a fun nostalgia fest for us and the kids enjoyed all the toys.

We visit Odd Balls about every 2 months, for sure a semi-hidden treasure

I wish I had more motivation to do things on rainy winter days. I just hole up, which would be significantly harder if I had kids and not dogs who also dislike rain.

My daughter (5) loves going to At Home near the airport, especially near a holiday. It's probably similar to how I used to love going to the O.G. Williamsburg pottery when I was a child.

One thing I learned way too late with my kids- if you take kids to a museum and you really want to see the exhibits but you're sure they'll be bored, get them a headset. For some reason wearing a headset in a museum seems to entertain them enough that they can stay longer than normal.

VMFA or go see a movie at bowtie.

We need an ice skating rink near the airport and more roller rinks in general.

Timely subject. Today’s NYT The Daily podcast is about the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending really aggressive treatment for obese children, including RX weight loss medication and surgery.

Outside of the physical benefits to activity, I simply think it’s good for the soul to not be confined. Being out and around people is so good for (at least for me) my mood.

We used to go to Regency Mall when the kids were younger and the weather was crap. I'm not sure if they've reopened their play area since COVID, but it was a good place where even if they escaped the admittedly lame play area, they certainly wouldn't be bothering anyone by running through an empty mall screaming.

Agreed! After 2020 I was not in the worst place mentally, but clearly being cooped up for a year had done me no favors. I started going for a 15-20 minute walk during lunch every day and the difference in mood was noticeable after just a week or two.

Short Pump has awnings. This crappy weather is part of the rain I don't understand why outdoor malls are the new hotness outside of southern California. Regency also has one of those trampoline parks if you want to let them jump around some.

100% my 4 year old made it through the entire Biltmore house tour all thanks to the handheld audio player. Something about pushing buttons really makes them feel in charge

Why we can't all just take a hibernation break from mid December until Feb 1 is beyond me.

"During summer I enjoy it’s temperature, but I shudder at the approach of winter, and wish I could sleep through it with the Dormouse, and only wake with him in spring, if ever." T. Jefferson 1822

One of the only things Jefferson and I have in common

Omg trips to the pottery were torture for me as a child.

I like the VMFA on a lousy day. There is always something I haven’t seen.

Dominion Pottery in Doswell was soooooo much better as a kid

Target… I could spend hours in there. Like an adult field trip.

Agree. Ages 2-5, were perfect for CMoR, and 5 and up is perfect for Science museum. Though Science museum does have a small play area for the under 5 crowd, it’s small.

Oh absolutely. Growing up, my brother and I came inside when the dinner bell rang. What is catching my attention about the podcast is that it’s not as simple as “kids don’t play outside anymore.” It’s recognizing that there are a huge number of factors outside of our control driving the obesity epidemic. It’s a disease and needs to be treated like any other childhood medical condition.

The Williamsburg Pottery used to be awesome. I remember it as a weird collective of glass blowers, pottery makes, people selling mall ninja swords, and random hippies with patchouli and other things that probably passed way above my head.

What it is now is just... weird and sad.

Does anyone know someone in the legal profession I could talk to. I never received any bills because DPU sent it to my old address. Apparently the city of Richmond says that they haven't received any water bill payments in 18 months but I've been paying my landlord was supposed to be paying that. Water bill is handled per the lease by the landlord...

Now one was giving me estimates into the month range, I was wondering about putting money in escrow or something.

Honestly the only store I enjoyed was the Black and Decker store.

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Lol your username is quite an adventure

I once beat Usain Bolt’s time on the sprinter speed racing exhibit at the SM and it really impressed my kids. I didn’t tell them that I cheated by leaving early but I didn’t activate the sensor and they still think I’m the fastest human alive.